I didn't forget...

Today is the feast of St. George. Let us sit at the feet of Professor Chesterton (who didn't believe in paragraphs apparently :) as he explains the importance of this great saint for our time:

Thus, to take the historical St. George; if all we know about him is that he was killed for his opinions, that fact is, properly considered, so staggering that it might send us all singing into battle. Or take rather the legendary St. George, who is (I need hardly say) very much more important than the real one. As it is, St. George the dragon-slayer stands to us simply and sufficiently as the symbol of courage. He does not stand in our minds connected with any of those silly epigrams which great men in their old age utter to misguided youth. St. George never told anybody what was his "method" or what was "the secret of his power." He made no remarks; he merely killed the dragon. He did not say that the dragon was killed on Eton playing-fields. He did not say that the dragon was killed on the anniversary of Majuba. He did not say that he had never met a dragon with whom he couldn't do a deal. He never called the death of the dragon inevitable: while he was fighting the dragon he had thoroughly discovered that it was not. He never said that the way to kill a dragon was to work hard in early youth, or to start with twopence a day, or to avoid tobacco, or to know your own mind, or any of those inane tips. For St. George knew very well what all real soldiers know; that the only way to be even approximately likely to kill a dragon is to give the dragon a heavy chance of killing you. And this method, which is the only one, is much too unpleasant to be talked about. You see, I am making a character of St. George at my own will and fancy. That is the whole point and advantage of the unknown saint. That is why saint-worship is so much more free than hero-worship. (ILN, May 12, 1906)

One sentence in that bears repeating: "For St. George knew very well what all real soldiers know; that the only way to be even approximately likely to kill a dragon is to give the dragon a heavy chance of killing you."

To arms, friends, a sword in one hand and a glass of muscadine wine (I don't like beer so much) in the other. There are many dragons about, especially with Finals coming up!